Hurry Up and Wait, Then Go Home And Wait Some More

Got up this morning and, as usual went through the frenetic final preparations for a three week tour in another country.  (I always promise that next time it'll be different.  It never is.)

As always, I had people barking at my heels like Border Collies as I slammed my way through last-minute "Oh, shit, I forgot X ..."  jobs.  But I got the last e-mail sent, the last disc burned, the last book off in the mail, and the last map printed off just in time for a wild ride to the airport, to get dumped off curbside because our chauffeur had other business.

Yeah, should have just made that phone call to make sure the planes were on schedule.

Of course they weren't.  Our flight to Halifax was delayed by "one hour."  Since we'd arrived a bit early, that meant settling in with a good book (I'm slugging through a Patrick O'Brian "Master and Commander" volume.  I find the courtly English charming, on the whole, but makes for tough sledding by times.  His books weary me more than most.  Not something they'll ever put on the back cover - "Sure to tire you out!" - but I do find them a worthwhile read, if only for the utterly impenetrable nautical terms.)

Well, when the "hour" was up, there was an announcement that the plane had been cancelled and that if people wanted to rebook their flights, they should come to the Air Canada counter.  I wonder if they ever run across someone who doesn't want to rebook their flights?  "Nah, flight's cancelled - I reckon I'll just go back to work.  The Dominican Republic is overrated anyway.")

I jumped up, grabbed my laptop case, lifted it up, and discovered that I had forgotten to zip it when I sat down (my laptop case).  The contents scattered all over the airport floor, and by the time I got my crap together, I was last in a very long line.

I've stretched this story out far more than it deserves - the short version is, they rebooked us on a later flight which allows us to still make our connections and we came home for the afternoon.  But now all the last minute stuff is done.  I was supposed to be in the air by now.  I'm casting about for things to do.

And so I came here.

But later on, we'll jump a flight for Halifax (God willing), then hook up with a flight to London ... and onward from there to Manchester and this tour begins.

C'mon.  Let's go, dammit.  I hate false starts.

Comments

[Julio Cesar]

Hmmmm. That behavior from the airlines staff makes me lurk deep inside of me and find the little sarcastical voice everyone has...

"Sure, I can book in a hotel one more night, I guess my wife would not care, since she already has not seen me in six months, what is one more night, right?"

They assume too much! ;)

[MrsDoF]

Thanks for coming here and giving us an update. Vicarious traveling is the better way, in my opinion.
Have a safe tour. Bon Voyage.

[candace]

Damn. I forgot to hide myself in your suitcase again.

[Ern]

That laptop case incident sounds like something that would happen on The Amazing Race. I hope the rest of your tour is smoother!

[wordgirl]

I got tense just reading that post. Hope the rest of it goes the way you want.

[laura]

I hope you will keep us posted while you are gone??

I always enjoy your updates!

[Nilbo]

Quick update - landed in Heathrow. It's an anthill of an airport. On to Manchester, will post later.

[William]

Travel safe.